Witteville Coal Mines Witteville was once a prosperous mining town during the early 20th century. Located just three miles west of Poteau, the Witteville coal mines drew hundreds of workers from all over the world. During an age where coal was king, the mines in Oklahoma employed over 7,500 men and boys. Oftentimes, children as […]
Tag: Urban Exploration
Robert S. Kerr’s “Forgotten” history
From 1926 until 1963, Senator Robert S. Kerr was a force to be reckoned with. Most people know him as an oil baron, partner with the Kerr-McGee Oil Industries, Inc. Others know him as a prominent political figure, moving and shaking things across the country with the likes of President John F. Kennedy. However, there’s […]
Lake Wister: History and Attractions for Lake Wister State Park
Southeastern Oklahoma’s Most Beautiful Lake Wister Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in Southeast Oklahoma. It is located in LeFlore County on the boundary of the Ouachita Mountains and the Arkoma Basin, just south of Wister, Oklahoma. Construction of Wister Lake In addition to the large wildlife preserve surrounding the lake, this Oklahoma […]
Poteau Christmas from the Past
Poteau Christmas Traditions Like a scene out of an old time Christmas movie, downtown Poteau has always thrived during the holiday seasons. During the earliest days, from the late 1800’s through the 1910’s, the traditions were centered around family. People would gather in each others homes to sing traditional Christmas songs as well as popular […]
The Victory Theater in Pictures; Poteau Oklahoma
Theater Origins in Poteau In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, there was a number of entertainment options in Downtown Poteau, Oklahoma. The first theater in Poteau was very Shakespearean in style. Called the Air Dome Theater, this was an open air theater that drew in people from miles around. Besides theaters, Poteau also had […]
Heckabbe’s Station: A forgotten stage stop?
Boggy Depot, Doaksville, Skullyville, Colbert’s Ferry; these are all place names easily associated with Oklahoma’s early history. There are a number of tales of the old Butterfield Overland Mail company and of the trepidatious cattle drives. Still, some stories from that era remain lost in time. One such story is the tale of Heckabbe’s Station […]
Exploring History: Historic Photographs of Shawnee, Oklahoma
The History of Shawnee, Oklahoma The history of the town of Shawnee, Oklahoma, has its origins long before statehood. First settled before the American Civil War, the area was first populated by members of the Sac and Fox tribe during the Indian Removals. Later, they were followed by the Shawnee, Kickapoo, and Pottawatomie Indians. Since the […]
Extreme Adventure Sports in Oklahoma, Not for the Faint of Heart
Oklahoma has many stereotypes. Some see it as a state full of Cowboys and Indians, others see it as where oil began. While these stereotypes have some merit, they only show a small portion of what Oklahoma is. Perhaps one of the least known aspects of Oklahoma is it’s thriving extreme sports scene. In fact, […]
Fascinating and Unusual Photographs From Oklahoma
Oklahoma Hidden Gems People have long traveled all across Oklahoma in order to photograph both the natural and man-made wonders that the state has to offer. The photographs below represent only a tiny portion of the unusual and fascinating places there are to see. There are thousands of photographs of popular attractions and places throughout […]
Saving Downtown Oklahoma: The Preservation of Historic Buildings
They were coal miners, railroad workers, merchants, farmers, husbands, wives, and children. They came to Oklahoma for many reasons. Some came to begin a better life. Some came because their job brought them here. Others came in an attempt to escape the law. Whatever their reasons for coming, they were the people who built and […]